Fifty-two cats were removed from the home of Barbara Lovis Colby of Beach Lake last week when she was charged with 28 counts of animal cruelty.

The charges stem from a search warrant executed at her residence in May by Metzger.

The citations are the result of the 52 cats removed from her residence because of unsanitary living conditions.

"Every one of those cats lived in that house," Metzger said. She also said the cats "had no food the day the warrant was executed" back in May.

According to a release, Colby has refused to cooperate and clean up her residence and get the cat numbers down for years.

The cats are being cared for at the Dessin Animal Shelter pending the hearing set for June 26.

"Not one of these cats was spayed or neutered, and they are continuing to give birth here at Dessin. It is a huge undertaking to feed, clean and care for them," stated Metzger. "These cats have never been vaccinated or seen by a veterinarian."

Pennsylvania Dept of Agriculture Dog Warden Rickert has also charged Colby with 30 counts of failure to provide rabies vaccinations.

In response to the allegations, Colby says that she is "sick and tired of Dessin telling lies about me."

She said that search was conducted around 9:30 a.m. and she had a doctor's appointment that morning. After attending her appointment, she "went and purchased cat food." Colby also said that "my cats were never without food. I have never, ever not fed them."

Colby continued to say that she made an attempt to get her cats vaccinated at a clinic in Beach Lake and that she "never got a call back" to schedule an appointment.

In closing, Colby said that her cats "are like my children. I would never, ever hurt them. I just want my babies back and for them (Dessin) to leave me alone."